There are so many options for showing off your merch, and you don't need a gallery wall to do it!
Instagram has a large community of pin collectors who share photos of their displays, so if you'd like some visual inspiration, check out some commonly used hashtags:
Or, you can scroll through the "tagged" tab on the profiles of specific pin makers.
Here is a non-exhaustive list of display examples, including space-saving options:
An ita bag is a backpack, handbag, or crossbody bag with a transparent vinyl "window" panel, and behind that is where you insert your merch. The contents are safely protected from weather, damage, and most importantly: they won't fall off!
The name is a borrowing of「痛バッグ」(ita baggu, literally "pain bag") from Japanese, and "pain" refers to how dedicated fans (otaku in the original sense, i.e. nerds) are looked down upon these sorts of displays being "unsightly" and painful to look at.1 In an act of self-reclamation, though, this can be interpreted as a positive thing by collectors: you are the bearer of a heavy heart with how much you love your faves.
Classic ita bags are typically filled with button badges and ribbon rosettes, often with repeats of the same character. Outside of that, basically any small item of merch can be put in an ita bag: keychains, plushies, nendoroids, standees, and of course enamel pins. In the pin community, the pain is not just emotional: collectors also joke about the physical pain of accidentally stabbing your fingers through fabric when adding pins to your bag.
Ita bag construction
Ita bags are commonly faux leather, which is made of either polyurethane (PU) or polyvinyl chloride (PVC). There are also bags made out of fabrics like corduroy, canvas, and nylon, but faux leather is arguably the most popular because it is waterproof and maintains its shape well. The window still has to be plastic and is often completely clear, but some bags use glitter or holographic vinyl. Most bags have a pocket behind the window, either inside the body of the bag or completely separate with its own zip. Inside this pocket is where you put your "insert".
Ita bag inserts
Ita bags on the market will typically either be mass-produced and sold by multiple retailers, or custom-designed by a business and produced via a specific manufacturer. Custom-designed bags can be more expensive, as they require samples to be produced and are made in smaller volumes, but tend to go through more rigorous quality check procedures and can have a lot more personality.
Ita jacketsThese are jackets with a vinyl pocket or panel on the back to insert your merch.
1 『[初心者向け]痛バって何？痛バッグを持って推し活しよう！』[For beginners] What are ita bags? Pick up an ita bag and support your faves! https://itabalab.com/itaba-nani